Looking at the bag of gold spirit coins in her hand, Artoria knew that if she hadn't been so aggressive and vigilant just now, they might have been able to sit down and talk.
However, she had no regrets. The Holy Grail War was inherently cruel; no one could predict who was friend or foe, so staying alert wasn't wrong.
Besides, the other party showed no intention of talking, immediately attacking and then fleeing, which clearly showed they were also wary of her.
"The Holy Grail War. This time, the Sun Moon Empire has changed the rules of the Soul Master Tournament and specifically invited our sect to participate. Old Heavenly Dragon, do you think we should go?"
Nan Shuishui frowned slightly. Participating in the Soul Master Tournament was, in a sense, a great opportunity.
Performing well in the competition could significantly boost the sect's reputation, which would undoubtedly be immeasurably beneficial for the sect's future development.
Of course, all of this hinged on the participating disciples achieving sufficiently outstanding results.
Nan Shuishui was quite confident in the strength of the younger generation from both the Heavenly Dragon Sect and the Earthly Dragon Sect. Though they might not be the absolute top tier, they were definitely in the genius bracket.
"Go, of course we must go!"
Heavenly Dragon Douluo's attitude was exceptionally firm.
In the past, only Soul Master Academies were eligible to participate in the tournament, leaving no room for their sects.
But this time, the Sun Moon Empire's reform of the competition was an excellent opportunity for their sects, and he certainly wouldn't shrink away from it.
"But you must have guessed that the Holy Grail War is very likely to break out in Mingdu. Aren't you truly afraid that the Heavenly Dragon Sect's disciples might fall there?" Nan Shuishui was still hesitant.
She naturally hoped the Earthly Dragon Sect could participate. She didn't expect to achieve outstanding results, but merely making it to the top thirty-two would make the Earthly Dragon Sect famous across the continent, unlike now, where few beyond the Heaven Soul Empire even knew of their existence.
However, the situation of the Holy Grail War was too complex. She had to be concerned.
After all, they had witnessed Artoria's immense power, and there was no telling how many other Servants like her there were. It was simply too dangerous.
Nan Shuishui actually didn't want Nan Qiuqiu to get involved. After all, the position of the Sea God was so venerable—how could their Earthly Dragon Sect aspire to it?
Even if they managed to win the Holy Grail War, whether they could hold onto the position of the Sea God was a huge question mark.
After winning and inheriting the divine position, no one knew if they could become a god immediately.
If not, wouldn't the person with the divine inheritance become a sweet piece of bait in the eyes of all major powers?
Every ambitious Soul Master desires godhood, the endless lifespan, immense power, and supreme status that a divine inheritance brings!
"My Heavenly Dragon Sect doesn't have a Master. Those people's attention likely won't be focused on us."
Heavenly Dragon Douluo let out a hearty laugh, then looked at Nan Shuishui with a hint of schadenfreude.
Initially, he was quite envious that the Earthly Dragon Sect had a Master and could participate in the Holy Grail War.
But now, having learned how perilous the Holy Grail War was, he felt it was best for the Heavenly Dragon Sect not to participate.
The Heavenly Dragon Sect only had one Super Douluo—he really didn't have the capacity to compete for a divine inheritance.
"Old Heavenly Dragon, you...!" Nan Shuishui's face darkened. Heavenly Dragon Douluo's words had hit a sore spot.
"Little Nan, let this old man advise you: you must know when to give up! For us, the sect's legacy is the most important thing!" Heavenly Dragon Douluo ceased his laughter, his expression becoming serious as he earnestly cautioned her.
After all, chronologically, he was Nan Shuishui's elder.
"Of course, I know that!" Nan Shuishui rolled her eyes. She wasn't someone who couldn't see the situation clearly. She wouldn't be blindly confident because of Artoria's strength and involve herself in a fight she couldn't possibly win.
However, saying it was easy. Could Heavenly Dragon Douluo himself do it? From Nan Shuishui's understanding of him, he was an incredibly stubborn person.
Take Dragon City, for example. In Heavenly Dragon Douluo's heart, its importance was almost equal to the sect's legacy.
If he ever had to choose between Dragon City and the sect's legacy, he probably wouldn't give up easily.
"As long as you understand. We can't withstand too great a storm. This Douluo Continent, this old man is understanding it less and less."
Heavenly Dragon Douluo shook his head and sighed, then transformed into a streak of lightning and vanished from the spot.
"Qiuqiu, after this tournament is over, you will take people to Sea Abyss City and establish an Earthly Dragon Sect branch!"
After watching Heavenly Dragon Douluo leave, Nan Shuishui turned to Nan Qiuqiu.
She had realized it was time to find a fallback option for the Earthly Dragon Sect, and Sea Abyss City was undoubtedly the best choice for now.
"I understand, Mom!" Nan Qiuqiu replied, feigning composure, but her heart was bubbling with excitement.
The thought of seeing Lu Jingming in Sea Abyss City made her impatient.
Deep within the Wicked Forest, in the underground city of the Holy Spirit Sect headquarters, a bizarre and terrifying ritual was underway.
"Awoooo!"
Hundreds of mournful wolf howls, like sharp blades, cut through the silence of the sealed underground city.
In the Holy Spirit Sect's sacrificial plaza, hundreds of black-robed followers, after drinking the blood wine that emanated a sinister aura, let out painful roars.
Initially, these roars were mixed with human screams, but as time passed, under the illumination of the abrupt Blood Moon hanging over the underground city, their sounds gradually shifted into hair-raising wolf howls.
Under the erosion of a mysterious power originating from a superior bloodline, these followers' human bloodlines were being completely covered and devoured, resulting in terrifying mutation.
Their muscles and meridians began to twist and deform, and their skulls stretched and changed shape. The pain brought by this transformation was unimaginable; ordinary people would likely die on the spot from a collapse of will.
However, the Holy Spirit Sect never lacked fanatical believers who viewed death as a homecoming and possessed an unyielding will.
In this turbulent era, the most likely people to emerge are those who are obsessive and commit everything to their faith—the extremists.
Their will is both fragile and resolute. At times, they fear neither death nor pain, but if their belief is shaken, that is a suffering worse than death.
Five hundred hand-picked fanatic followers of the Holy Spirit Sect resolutely drank the mysterious blood and began their transformation toward a non-human state.
Zhongli Wu, the Holy Spirit Sect Master, stared intently at the changing followers below, his eyes filled with anticipation and fanaticism.
Above him, Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao also watched the followers without blinking. At the same time, their gazes occasionally drifted to the Blood Moon above, which emitted a bizarre light.
Under the Blood Moon's glow, even as Title Douluo level masters, they could feel their emotions being inexplicably stirred, a surge of impulse to completely lose control.
Fortunately, anyone who reached the Title Douluo level could resist this influence with their own powerful willpower.
However, the Evil Soul Masters below the Title Douluo level were undoubtedly having their intrinsic madness fully ignited. Their eyes were blood-red, and they greedily watched the Holy Spirit Sect followers undergoing the metamorphosis, their eyes full of desire.
At the very front of the Holy Spirit Sect followers, Blood Pupil Saint Son Huo Yuhao also unhesitatingly drank the blood from his cup.
Unlike the blood drunk by the other followers, the blood he consumed was more viscous and radiated a more powerful aura.
As the blood slowly flowed into his body, Huo Yuhao felt as if the blood was evaporating inside him, causing his body to wails of pain, while his spirit underwent a complete metamorphosis.
An intense impulse made Huo Yuhao let out an earth-shattering roar to the heavens. The wolf howl carried terrifying pressure, and a substantial aura spread out with him at the center.
The lower-cultivation Evil Soul Masters of the Holy Spirit Sect immediately knelt to the ground, their minds seemingly dominated by some force, compelling them to worship Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes martial soul and his Ice Jade Empress Scorpion martial soul were simultaneously merged by this powerful force from the foreign blood.
His spirit rings, his spirit, and his flesh were all crushed, only to be reforged under the effect of this mysterious power.
Only the Key of Sentience gem seemed unaffected by this force, still radiating a faint light.
As time passed, Huo Yuhao's eyes gradually turned into vertical pupils, radiating intense bloody light, and his body began to crawl with ice-blue mystical patterns.
"Yuhao!" On the side, Xiao Mei, who had completely accepted Huo Yuhao as her lover (and was now called Little Mei), showed a worried expression upon seeing his drastic changes.
"As my Master, if he can't even accept this small blessing, then he deserves to die. How could he become the Lord of this world's wolf pack otherwise?"
A gigantic werewolf spoke. Its sharp claws glinted in the dim light, its strong muscles bulging, demonstrating terrifying power. Its immense size gave off a strong sense of oppression, and its deep gray fur was thick and coarse, all indicating its non-human identity.
The Abundance Stealer's War Chief—Hoolay—was the Servant summoned by Huo Yuhao. The powerful blood he shed was the very blood they drank.
Even Huo Yuhao himself chose to drink Hoolay's blood, craving the transformation into an Abundance Stealer.
This was because his body had a disability, and by drinking Hoolay's blood and becoming an Abundance Stealer werewolf, he could gain powerful regenerative abilities, even a form of immortality, sufficient to repair his physical defect.
Furthermore, becoming an Abundance Stealer werewolf had almost only benefits, apart from the risks of becoming non-human and going mad: powerful regeneration, long life, and greater strength. These were fatally attractive to an Evil Soul Master pursuing power.
Evil Soul Masters would stop at nothing to gain power; what did it matter if they were no longer human? They had long since abandoned their humanity.
Therefore, upon learning about the transformation into an Abundance Stealer and the specific methods from Hoolay, Zhongli Wu and Ye Xishui immediately selected five hundred fanatical believers to form this unit.
Hoolay had stated that to transform into an Abundance Stealer, one must first endure the immense pain brought by the racial change, which most people simply couldn't withstand. Even if they succeeded, they would only be cannon fodder who lost their will and self.
To truly transform into an Abundance Stealer, gaining long life, immortality, and powerful strength, one must be able to endure this pain. Otherwise, they were not qualified.
Of course, if they already possessed the same Blessing of Abundance as the Abundance Stealers, the transformation would be easier.
However, the so-called Blessing of Abundance clearly didn't exist in this world, so everything had to rely on sheer willpower.
The fanatic followers of the Holy Spirit Sect undoubtedly possessed a determined will.
As for Huo Yuhao, there was no need to mention him.
When he absorbed the Ice Empress in the extreme north, he had already endured unimaginable pain.
Now, his spiritual will was as solid as rock, unshakeable. He completely endured the transformation of Hoolay's blood with his tenacious willpower.
Hoolay didn't actually care much about Huo Yuhao, even though he was his Master.
However, he was naturally very willing to spread the Abundance Stealer bloodline in a foreign world.
Moreover, Huo Yuhao's aptitude was good. Hoolay thought he could be trained to become the War Chief of the Abundance Stealers in this world, and then lead them to occupy this planet and spread the blessing of Abundance throughout the universe.
Hoolay lowered his head slightly, looking at the worried Little Mei.
In his eyes, this woman was an even better vessel than Huo Yuhao. Both her power and her life-status were far superior to Huo Yuhao's.
However, her personality was a flaw. She was completely unsuitable to become the War Chief leading the Abundance Stealers.
Otherwise, Little Mei would have been the optimal choice, not Huo Yuhao.
But considering Little Mei's relationship with Huo Yuhao, Hoolay thought that their child might be the best candidate.
If his true body hadn't died, and he wasn't just a memory fragment, he would have personally led the Abundance Stealers to rise in a foreign world.
Now, Hoolay only wanted to cultivate a suitable successor and let the Abundance Stealers achieve glory in this new world once more.
Of course, if the Holy Grail could resurrect him, that would be a different matter entirely.
However, Hoolay was not a recklessly brave brute; he also possessed considerable intelligence and had long since discerned what was hidden behind the Holy Grail War.
So, he wouldn't completely place his hope on the Holy Grail but would rely on his own power to recreate the glory of the Abundance Stealers in this world.
And now was the first step.
Thinking this, Hoolay roared to the sky. His sharp wolf claw unhesitatingly tore open his chest, exposing his beating heart to the air without reservation.
As blood gushed forth, the transformation process of Huo Yuhao and the Holy Spirit Sect followers was greatly accelerated.
Watching Hoolay's chest recover instantly, the eyes of Zhongli Wu and others grew increasingly fervent.
Holy Emperor? Who is that? They didn't know him. In their hearts, the God of Abundance was their only faith.
At this time, silver-white fur slowly grew on Huo Yuhao's body. His ten fingers gradually turned into sharp claws, and terrifying frost energy turned into white mist, enveloping his body.
His height rapidly soared to over three meters. His muscles were as coiled as ice rock, and fine ice crystals condensed in his silver-white fur, reflecting cold light.
Sharp ice spikes grew on key parts like his shoulders and elbows, like natural armor, exuding a chilling aura.
His head gradually transformed into a wolf's head. His muzzle protruded, and his fangs were as sharp as ice picks, shimmering with a chilling gleam. His ears stood upright and were covered in frost.
His tail was thick as a steel whip, with a cluster of ice at the end. When it swung, it brought forth waves of sharp, cold wind, as if it could cleave the air.
Huo Yuhao clenched his claw suddenly, and a terrifying air blast exploded. This was purely caused by his physical strength.
In his blood-red eyes, there was no sign of madness, only calmness and coldness.
Within the spreading white frost, the gigantic werewolf slowly shrank, quickly returning to normal human size, revealing Huo Yuhao's original appearance.
Relying on his powerful spiritual power, he quickly mastered this new power, able to freely switch between werewolf and human forms at any time.
"Very good!"
Seeing this, Hoolay showed a satisfied expression.
How could a waste who can't even control their own power be qualified to become the War Chief of the Abundance Stealers?
The next moment, a blood-colored claw-light, like lightning, slashed across Huo Yuhao's neck, much to everyone's horror.
Zhongli Wu and the others stood up abruptly, their faces showing shock. Long Xiaoyao's face instantly darkened, his fists clenched tightly. If Ye Xishui hadn't been quick to hold him back, he would have attacked on the spot.
"Yuhao!"
Little Mei couldn't help but scream. Her eyes were filled with intense hatred as she glared at Hoolay, and terrifying divine power radiated from her body.
"Little Mei, I'm fine!"
Suddenly, Huo Yuhao, whose head had fallen to the ground, spoke. His headless corpse slowly bent down, picked up his head, and steadily placed it back on his neck.
The broken wound healed instantly after his head was back in place. Huo Yuhao twisted his neck, and a sound of bones grinding could be heard.
"Gulp!"
Seeing this terrifying scene, the Evil Soul Masters of the Holy Spirit Sect unconsciously swallowed their saliva, their eyes then becoming even more fanatical.
"Excellent, the blessing you received is complete!"
Hoolay curved his mouth into a savage smile. The blood Huo Yuhao drank came from his heart, which was fundamentally different from the blood others drank.
Although other Holy Spirit Sect followers would gain a certain degree of immortality after transforming into Abundance Stealer werewolves, it was nowhere near as powerful as Huo Yuhao's.
"I can feel that the power of the Spirit Eyes and the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion has completely integrated with me."
Huo Yuhao showed a slight smile. The terrifying white frost instantly froze the blood spilled when his head was severed, which then dissipated into the air as ice dust.
"What a wonderful feeling, like being reborn! Is this the body of an Abundance Stealer?"
Huo Yuhao calmly analyzed his current physical condition. The parts that were once disabled were instantly restored the moment he became an Abundance Stealer. He had finally been restored to a truly complete man.
Huo Yuhao's gaze turned to the delighted Little Mei, and a ripple stirred in his heart.
Little Mei's beauty was beyond doubt. Her gentle, motherly aura was fatally attractive to Huo Yuhao, who had lost his mother at a young age.
Even though Huo Yuhao's personality was now cold and ruthless, he was gradually drawn to Little Mei.
Previously, he was willing but unable; he could only look but not get close.
But now, it was different. He had fully recovered and possessed the necessary ability.
This was one of the reasons why he was willing to risk drinking Hoolay's heart blood: one was to gain great power and immortal life, and the other crucial reason was to be restored as a true man, capable of truly being with Little Mei.
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
I handpick only the finest and most captivating novels for you. Don't forget to check out my other novels!
p@treon HongMengZi